Sight for firearms.



PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1905.

J. WINDRIDGE.

SIGHT FOR PIREARMS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 23,1005.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

JAMES WINDRIDGE, OF MIDDLEFIELD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE LYMAN GUN SIGHT CORPORATION, OF MIDDLEFIELD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

SIGHT FOR FIREARIVIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 23, 1905. Serial N0. 265,689.

No. 800,195. Patented Sept. 26, 1905.

To @ZZ whom, it may concer-rt.-

Be it known that I, JAMES WINDRIDGE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Middlefield, in the county of Middlesexand State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sights for Firearms, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to a system of interchangeable front sights for firearms; and it has for its object to provide means by which various sights adapted for diierent requirements may be readily applied to the firearm or interchanged without the use of tools or the necessity for adjustment or target practice to insure accuracy in mounting.

The invention consists of a novel holder adapted for insertion in a dovetailed groove in the gun-barrel, in combination with interchangeable sights and means for accurately seating and holding the sights in the base, and in the arrangement 'and construction of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of a section of a gun-barrel having my improved front sight mounted thereon. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same viewed from the rear of the firearm. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sight detached from the gun-barrel. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section on the line w of Fig. 3 with the sight shown in position to be seated in the holder or slightly lifted out therefrom to show the operation of the mechanism. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the same plane as Fig. 4 with the sight' seated and clamped in the holder. Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section on the plane zu of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan View of the holder. Fig. 8 is an end View of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a view vsimilar to Fig. 8 with the clampingscrew removed. Fig. l0 is a vertical section through the holder on the plane m of Fig.

3, showing the clamping-screw withdrawn.

or groove in the gun-barrel a', as shown in Figs. -l and 2. In its upper part a broad groove or way is milled transverse to the axis of the barrel, comprising the vertical parallel sides b and iiat surfaces 0l, forming right angles' therewith, separated by the curved surfaces e and the central circular vertical recess f. Said curved parts comprise the upper walls of screw-threaded perforations g, extended in axial alinement with each other parallel with the aforesaid way in the central plane of the holder from its ends to the recess f.

The way or groove of the holder receives the base H of the sight proper, e', which is litted tightly between the parallel sides and rests upon the flat surfaces d, but is milled away to provide a slight clearance over the curved surfaces e and insure non-contact of the sight-base with the holder at those points.

On the lower side of the sight-base is a depending projection or tongue fa, which is received in the circular recess f. The sides of the tongue facing the perforations g are each slightly hollowed out with a drill-point or similar-shaped reamer to provide a seat or depression m, having its center or deepest point somewhat above the axial line of the said perforations, as shown in Fig. 6. In one of the perforations is fitted a set-screw n, having a small screw-driver slotted head n", the perforation being correspondingly counterbored to receive said head, as shown in Fig. 12. The end or point of the set-screw engages the corresponding side of the tongue u slightly below the center of the depression or seat vm thereon. In the other perforation is fitted a thumb-screw R, having a knurled head t, by which it may be readily screwed lirmly against the tongue a with the point or end somewhat below the center of the depression or seat m on the side of the tongue, and thereby engaging the inclined surface thereof below said point. Thus the part of the tongue engaged by the two screws is of wedge-shaped outline in vertical cross-section through the plane of the screws at the points of engagement thereof, said inclined sides converging upwardly from the lower end of the tongue, as shown in Fig. 5. The pressure of the screws upon the said inclined surfaces of the tongue therefore tends to draw the sight down upon its seat or surfaces d and invariably locate it in the same position in the holder.

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The operation of vthe mechanism is as follows: The set-screw n being properly adjusted in its fixed position to locate the sight in axial alinement with the bore of the gun barrel and the thumb-screw R withdrawn, as shown in Fig. 10, the sight-base may be easily and instantly set into the holder and firmly clamped in place by screwing the thumbscrew against the tongue, the action of which will simultaneously draw the sight firmly down into its seat on the holder and clamp it in place against the set-screw n.

The adjustment of the set-screw is first made in connection with target practice, whereby it can be brought to the position to insure absolute alinement of the sight with the axis of the gun-barrel, after which it shouldnot be changed or disturbed. Then the sight `when removed and replaced will always be restored to the same position, and a series of sights of various characteristics made to gage or otherwise uniformly constructed can be used interchangeably in the holder with absolute ac-r curacy and without being individually adjusted by target practice. There is no tendency to distort the sight in the holder by the action of the clamping-screw, and the exercise of skill and care in .placing the sight is not required. The sights by the construe tion of the mechanism are mechanically brought to place and with absolute accuracy.

The sightin Figs. 1 to 10 is a simplebeadsight mounted on the base H and that of Fig. ll has a hoop encircling tie bead; but Whatever the character of the sights the bases will be similar and interchangeable in the holder and the height of the sights from the base will be the same.

In shaping the inclined surfaces of the tongue u it is convenient to use a common drill, as described; but they may be milled across the tongue, if desired, in which case the sectional outline of the tongue throughout would be that shown in Fig. 5.

scouts s I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- l` In an interchangeable-sight system v1for firearms, the combination of a sightholder adapted to be rigidly secured to the gun-barrel, having a horizontal way transverse to the axis of the barrel and a central vertical recess, a set-screw seated in a perforation in the holder parallel with. saidway on one side of said recess and projecting into the same, a clamping-screw seated in alinement with the set-screw on the opposite side of the recess, and adapted to project into the same, and a sight iitting the way otA the holder, and provided with a tongue of dovetailed cross-section adapted to be engaged by and clamped between the screws of the base to seat and secure the sight in the base, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

2. In an interchangeable-sight system for firearms the combination of the sight-holder A provided with the dovetailed base lfor reception in a corresponding groove in the gunbarrel, and having the horizontal way transverse to the axis of the barrel comprising the vertical and horizontal surfaces I) and d, and the vertical recess f central of said way, the set-screw a screwed through the holder into said recess parallel with the way, the clamping-screw R screwed through the holder into said recess opposite and in alinement with the set-screw, and a sight fitting in said way and provided with a depending tongue u of dovetailed cross-section` adapted to be engaged by and clamped between said screws at said dovetailed part, to seat and secure the sight in the base, substantially in the manner and -for the purpose specified.

Signed by me at Middleiield, Connecticut, this 16th day of June, 1905.

JAMES I'TINDRIDGE.

Witnesses:

GEORGE L. BARNES, ALFRED H. AUGUR. 

